Oftentimes, what appears to be ingenious or an “overnight success” is actually something that took years of work, retries, successes, and failures. Likewise, someone will do things that seem odd, stupid, SciFi-ish, or just plain weird. Then years later, other people will exclaim how brilliant and “ahead of his time” he was!

Ironic, isn’t it?

All of those ideas bring to mind the fantastic movie, Bottle Shock. Based on a true story, it tells about the interconnected lives of half a dozen people, all trying to achieve their different dreams.

One of the main characters, Jim Barrett (the dad), had given up his partnership in a successful law firm in order to pursue his dream of making the world’s best wine.

Tirelessly working year after year, he experienced a number of successes and failures. In the process, he had become an expert in winemaking, but few people outside of his immediate community knew it. His pride, stubbornness, and self-perception were part of the problem.

Finally, he hit rock bottom: he was out of money and his latest effort had failed – the Chardonnay they spent so much time perfecting turned out murky-brown, instead of staying clear.

He was done.

He called some guys to come haul away the 500 cases of bad wine, and with his old, leather briefcase in hand, he drove to his old law firm.

He had worked so hard and had tried so many times to succeed. Having to go back to where he had left must have been the ultimate sense of failure for him.

BUT…

While he was in a pit of despair, other people and other forces were working in his favor. As fate would have it, the Chardonnay went back to being clear. It turned out to be perfect – absolutely delicious and beautifully colored!

As Jim Barrett was in the midst of giving up, all of the pieces came together and produced for him the realization of his dream.

Later, at a “blind taste” wine competition in Paris, judges declared Barrett’s Chardonnay to be Number 1 in the world.

He had done it. He HAD produced the perfect Chardonnay – the best in the world. He realized his dream.

At the time, some of Barrett’s friends and colleagues told him that he was foolish for attempting what he did. Yet, decades later, the world still acclaims his achievement and continuing successes.

Ironic, isn’t it?

What dreams are you trying to achieve or realize?

What things are you about to give up on?

Don’t quit. While you have been toiling away, other people and other forces have been at work in your favor. You just haven’t seen them. That’s the way it works, sometimes.

Just when you are about to give up hope, your greatest success can still occur. Your greatest miracle can yet show up.

See it through, and you will be amazed! You, too, will then be able to say that you have been blessed with the Realization of a Dream.